Gerai Ah Kow: Horlicks sesame fried chicken rice — Halal Chinese eatery by father-son duo draws huge crowds
For the past few months, I have eaten at possibly every OG chicken rice stall in KL and Selangor. But it’s always been the same ol’ roast chicken. So you can imagine my surprise when I came across Gerai Ah Kow, a halal chicken rice stall in KL serving Horlicks sesame fried chicken! Yes, HORLICKS! Of course, I had to check out this unique dish.
Situated inside Medan Selera Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz (opposite Hospital Besar Kuala Lumpur). If you’re able to find a parking space during lunch time, then you truly have lady luck by your side.
Fun fact, this stall has been around since 1983. Ah Kow came up with the ingenious sesame chicken recipe and has since passed it down to his son, Eric and son in law, Kenny.
What I tried at Gerai Ah Kow
I ordered the Horlicks Sesame Fried Chicken (RM16), Rice (RM2.50) and a plate of Bean Sprouts (RM7). Keep in mind that Gerai Ah Kow practices self-service so you’ll have to patiently wait for the ladies to place your order on a tray before you can find a table and tuck in. I didn’t mind this one bit, after all good things come to those who wait!
Horlicks sesame fried chicken aside, this was your typical chicken rice spread— rice, a bowl of soup, chilli sauce. The chicken slices are served on a bed of sliced cucumbers bathed in light soya sauce and topped with coriander.
I’ll be honest. I really didn’t expect anything out of the fried chicken albeit the rave reviews— it’s fried chicken, it’s already tasty, how could it possibly get any better? Boy, was I absolutely wrong.
A bite of the fried chicken skin and I was ready to call everyone on my contact list to try it out too. The beautiful golden skin was unbelievably loaded with crunch. The crispy fried chicken crust cracked with every bite… and I was hooked. I just wanted more of that brown crispy skin peppered with sesame seeds. And the goodness doesn’t stop there. The white flesh underneath was so succulent and I found myself mechanically just reaching for more of the utterly delicious chicken.
Yes, the chicken was perfection on its own but the spicy chilli sauce (be warned those who can’t take heat) just elevated the flavours even more. I also suggest you order the bean sprouts— they were definitely the underdog dish on the menu. They were fresh, fat and crunchy— after all bean sprouts grown in Ipoh are the best in the world!
If there was a pedestal dedicated to fried chicken, this Horlicks Sesame Fried Chicken would be adorned with jewels. Sorry, Uncle Lim.
Frankly, the rice and soup were nothing to shout about but were the ideal supporting crew to the chicken. Also, if you’re wondering whether or not the taste of Horlicks was overpowering, I’m happy to report that it is not. I also found out that the addition of Horlicks lends to the crispy texture of the fried chicken and the sesame seeds adds a nutty crunch. The best part was that after the entire meal, I noticed something very apparent— itI didn’t leave that usual greasy, fried chicken aftertaste. Bonus!
Final thoughts
“I’m going to tapau another two packets of fried chicken. Do you want me to get you a packet?” suggested my companion who couldn’t stop cooing about how delicious the chicken was.
I laughed. And said yes. How could I not share this delightful find with my loved ones— that would be plain evil. Plus, I was so curious to know if the fried chicken would still retain its crunchy texture.
As I watched my friend place her takeaway order, I noticed that almost everyone sitting in the food court was tucking into the chicken rice. There were plenty of other stalls but Gerai Ah Kow is undoubtedly in a league of its own.
A bite of the Horlicks Sesame Fried Chicken is worth every second in traffic and hours spent searching for a parking spot, truly. And I’m pleased to report that the fried chicken takeaway was just as crunchy after just a few minutes in the air fryer. Hurry, put this down on your must-try list!
Expected damage: RM12 – RM20 per pax
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